I think I have Body dysmorphic disorder

[xerwb2]

Yeah, like the subject says, I think I have BDD:

-I check myself in every single reflective surface I walk by (incl. the half-silvered windows on the Science building at uni, glass doors, the back of my ipod, just to make sure my hair doesn't look retarded or I don't have any new spots on my face.)

-I spend ages in front of the mirror at home, picking at spots. This cuts into the time that I should be studying, which I never do anyway. I used to get really anxious about ingrown hairs on my knees O.o, that focus has mostly shifted to blackheads on my nose.

-I always feel as though people are judging me on the way I look and avoid going out (most recent example, I got a haircut that I thought was positively cringe-worthy on last week and haven't gone into uni so far this week)

-And BDD has a few of the same symptoms as SA

I think it might partly stem from the teasing I endured at school, cos I have a mole on my neck that kinda stands out and my hair used to stick up at one spot near the back, among other things.

I've never been to a psychiatrist before and I'm too afraid to tell my parents about any of this. I have started going to free sessions with a psychologist at uni but she doesn't seem very good so far..

Anyway, I need some advice on what to do. Should I talk to my parents? And if so, how would I go about it? I think they only think that I'm just a bit shy or something.

[ostorozhno]

I think you should definitely talk to your parents about it. Just decide when you want to tell them and then say, "You guys, I have to talk to you about something important that's really worrying me."